- - - - Meggie McIntyre - - - -. asked:
I do use recycled paper, notebooks and household paper products; I bought the energy saving lightbulbs when on sale, and always try to buy products with packaging that say ‘made with recycled materials’–but much more I just can’t afford.
I do use recycled paper, notebooks and household paper products; I bought the energy saving lightbulbs when on sale, and always try to buy products with packaging that say ‘made with recycled materials’–but much more I just can’t afford.
They’re just starting out on the market - that’s why.
You’ve got a good start on buying green. Watch sales and coupons to buy individual products.
Make some cleaners and such yourself. Then you won’t have to pay outrageous prices for green cleaners.
Buy in bulk as much as you can and you’ll save on the packaging in general. Buy reusable containers and you’ll cut down a lot more on packaging - saving much more than the manufacturers will ever recycle in packaging!
I try to stick buy those rules and I’ve been able to afford to be green on my very small salary. Some of them are the same as being frugal, but in my mind, its totally worth it!
I totally agree! I could do so much more if many of the products weren’t so expensive so I feel your pain! I am replacing light bulbs as they burn out and I do recycle. I just have to say to myself that my “baby steps” are making a difference. Enjoy your day!
Because Environmentalist’s are taking advantage of foolish people! You asked - so there is your answer…
The more “green prod.” get on the market the cheaper they will become, it’s very simple.
Harsh chemicals in products that aren’t green are a lot cheaper than those naural ones found in green products.
Why are you paying almost $4 for a gallon of gas for your car? Well, truck drivers have to buy fuel also. Raise their fuel prices and your grocery costs, be it greens or any product, will also go up.
And the crop dusters which spray the fields, “ditto”. And the farmers tractor and farm equipment, “ditto”. But don’t worry, at least the petroleum companies are making a profit.
a couple way you can shop greener on the cheap:
1. buy products with LESS packaging. all that packaging, reyclable or not, takes energy to produce.
2. read the ingredients on cleaning products if they are available. often times the phosphorus content is printed on bottles of dish soap, detergent, etc. buy the one with the LEAST ammount of phosphate.
3.go to the service desk at your local grocery store and tell them you would like to see more organic and green choices. if enough people tell them they will listen.
in the long run you would save ….so a little expense at first is adjustable
If they were cheap, they wouldn’t need a special gimmick to sell them. I am sure there are many regular products that would be considered green, but since they are not more expensive than the competition, they don’t need to give you a reason to pay more. Maybe cotton towels or whatever. Would a cotton towel be considered green? Made from a natural fiber and reusable.
A lot does have to do with newer technologies as it is becoming more “popular” to move towards a more green lifestyle. The more people that do and the more products that are out there and developed, the faster prices will drop on some items.
Some things like CFL’s, are going to be more expensive initially to buy, but the monetary savings come throughout the life of the bulb. You save a great deal in electrical costs as well as the fact that these last much longer than ordinary incandescent bulbs so you aren’t replacing them nearly as frequently.
I think that there are some other green products that are just going to probably remain more expensive than their less Earth-friendly brethren and sometimes, if you really want to, you just have to bite the bullet on some of these (or not). These will be more the case of going a little further out of the way in “helping the cause”.
Instead of buying Paper Towels and napkins, SWITCH to Kitchen Towles & cloth napkins… the savings in HUGE over the course of a year
—– I use Toilet Paper… but I don’t use Paper Napkins, Paper Towels, Paper or plastic dishes, etc…
Use “Home-Made Cleaners” — Trust me.. this is a Green as you can get & saves A LOT OF MONEY!!!
What you need: Octagon Soap (less than $1), Hydrogen Peroxide (less than $1), Huge Jug of Vinegar (@ $3), Large Box Baking Soda ($2), Large Box of Borax ($3), Table Salt (less than $1)… and water
With these products you can make:
Your own laudry detergent
Your own stain treatment
Your own linoluem or tile floor cleaner
Your own bathroom cleaner
Your own scrubbing cleaner
Your own window cleaner
If you add Lemon Juice (less than $1) and Corn Oil (@ 2) then you also have the makings of cleaner for hardwood floors
If you also get Fels Naptha Soap (hard to find) (@ $2) then you have a treatemetn for mold, mildew, and fungus…. great for organic gardening
Line-dry clothing instead of tumble-dry — MUCH GREEN & YOU SAVE MONEY
Because it’s a scam. Most people seriously trying to be green, will pay a little more to feel the moral benifits of doing so. Companies know how to play people, and are happy to help us feel better about ourselves, for a price.